Safe-protection installation



Jan. 6, 1931.

J. C. MILLER, JR

SAFE PROTECTI 0N INSTALLATION Filed Sept.- 1. 1928 WW? W 1.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Znvafiar Clo/27?, CMzIZZerc/i Jan. 6, 1931. L ER, JR 1,788,119

SAFE fROTECTION INSTALLATION Filed Sept. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zz-zysnkvr: cfohnQMiZZeT'c/i I I u Patented Jan. 6, 1931 sraTEs JOHN'G'MILLER, JRQ OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, LASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LAKE ERIE- CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, 01-310, A CORPORATION OF Application -fi 1e d September This invention relates toan improved vault protective device and has special reference to the installation of "noxious gas bombs in vaults, safes and the like. 1' I Heretofor'e, various forms' of noxious gas bombs have been proposed for mounting inside the door of-vaults andsafes, such bombs being of various'forms,and operated in various ways, such as by concussion, cutting, heat,

restrained operating mechanism wherein rupture of the tensioning member releases the bomb operating mechanism; I

it is alsoan objectfof this invention to pro; vide an improved bombinstallation wherein increased safety is'obt'ained under ordinary day to use ofthe vault or safe. Heretofore, when thejbomb releasing or operating mechanism has been mounted in an exposed irsition on the inner surface of a'vault or o door the bomb has sometimes been accidently set off by a disturbance of the operating mechanism, whenthe door is open, by persons passing in and out of the vault or brushing against the inner face of the door. it is another object of this invention to provide an improved safety cut off for the bomb proper that may be. normally main: tained sealed in its inoperative position, the

seal being ofa frangible nature in order that it may be broken at any time it is desired to.

prevent discharge of the bomb.

fit is a further object of this'invention to provide frangible means in the bomb re-1 aining linkage that will resist a moderiy heavy pull but willbebroken by a shock or concussion. The frangiblelmeans is preferably'positioned adjacent the lock of the suit or safe, as this is the point most likely to be chosen for attack'in the'case of an attempt at forcible entry. 1

this invention will be apparent fromthe disclosures in the specification and accompany I I 1 I release mechanism.

lit is an objectlof this invention to provide an improved installation f0rbombs].of various types, especially those having a tension- Qt-her and further important objects of SAFE-PROTECTION insratrnrron 1,. 1928. Serial no 303,406.

illustrated on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. "On the drawings; 1 I

Figurel is an elevation of the manor innerface of avault door on which a device embodying the features of thisinvention has beeninstalled, the Wiring system having been offset to more clearly show the detailsthereof.

1 Figure 2 is an enlargedI'detail of theibo'mb Figure 3 is a fixed pulleys." I

- Figure l is a sectionshowing one of the movablepulleysw V Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the firing mechanism which releases the gas bomb and illustrates the operation of the. protective installation I I II I I Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary de} tail of the wire mounting adjacent the combination lock of the door. I 1 1 Figure 7 is a detail thereof on the line VII-VII of Figure 6. j 1 V Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII- VIII of Figure 7. Figure 9 is'a fragmentary'detail of one of the anchors of Figure 6.- j Figure 10 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, showing the wiring systemsfin alignment. I I g y i As shown on the drawings: 1 For purposesof illustration the vault door structure shown on thedrawings has been reduced to its simplest form, comprising a door plate 10 with a skeleton stiffening frame 11 and a combination lock 12, ashowing of the locking bars andthe operating mechanism therefor being considered superfluous and confusing in connection with thepresent invention. 7

Apair of gas bombsare mounted in any desired manner and "location convenient to the door. Two bombs have been shown in order to supply suiiicient gas for a large vault, although one would besuflicient for ordinary vaults, and it is to be understood section showing one of the that the present invention is not intended I f a plurality of illustration,

comprises a tubular neck portion 13 of a hardened drill proof material, to the bottom of which 1s secured a noxlous gas container 14 together with discharging 'mechanism therefor comprising. suitable detonating means such as caps 15 mounted inthe neck 16 of-a bomb holderinterposed between the tubular neck and the container, and adapted to be fired by a pin 18 when the latter is struck by "a plunger 19 backed by a spring20 in the'tubular neck 13. The upper end or stem 21 of the plunger 19 is formed with a groove engageable by balls 22 carried by an enveloping member 23 which slides in a tube 24 small enough'to hold the balls-in the stem groove. Whenthe, member 23 is released it, together with the plunger 19, moves down? wardly in the tube 24 until theballs pass the lower end of -the tube when they are free to disengage from the stem 21. v The member 23 is normally held in the position shown-by a Bowden wir'e25 enveloping sheath 26 of which is fle'xible and permits'a wide choice of .location'of the bomb proper relative to the holding mechanism for theother or free end 27 .oflthe Bowden wire. The sheath 26 is preferably of a hardened .materialadapted to prevent clamping the" wire by pinching the tube.

A. safet lockin t. in 55' is mounted in a bracket58 clamped onthe tubular neck poi--- i 27 of the Bowden wireforthe first bomb is tion 13 in such aposition that when the pin is projected inwardly, it acts to prevent full travel of the plunger 19.1 The pin is proi videdgwith'fa frangible'wire seal 57 to prevent its unauthorized use, the operation of the pin severingv the seallng w re, the lower 7 part of which then drops out.

As shown in Figure 5 the firing pin 18 is arranged "with a transverse aperture 28 through which is passed the free end 27a of shown in Figure 2 and comprises a spacer member 30 of a hardened drill proof materia'hthe upper end of which serves as an abutment for the end of the Bowden wire sheath 26. The member 30 carriesa fixed pulley 31 near itslower end and a movable pulley 32 is attached to the end 27 ofthe Bowden wire. The ,two'pulleys just described are normally held in the relative position shown by a loop 33'of a'fiexible wire 34 passingaround the pulleys.

The wire 34 trained or passed back and forth over the'rear surface of the door 10,

' .passingover a series of fixed pulleys 35 of the type shown in Figure 3, the pivots 36 for the pulleys being rigidly attached to the door surface. The two ends of the wire 34 are joined by a turnbuckle 37 to form in eliifect an endless strand in order to increase t e the wiring. With this .arrangement under the worst possible conditions only half the lengthvof the wire need be pulled over the pulleys to operate the bomb releasing means, whereas if the wire were fixed at one end it is conceivable that anattempt at entry .might sever: the wire immediately adjacent the anchor with the result that the friction of all .the pulleys would have to be overcome by the bomb operatingspring 20.

'fusible link '38 is also included in the wire'34to protect-against attempts to burn a hole through theva'ult door at a point near enough to the bomb neck 13 to put the mechanism therein out of commission without interfering with the wires. A second wire 39 has its ends attached tov the shackles 40 of movable pulleys 41 included in the wiring sy'stem'previously described. .The wire 39 is trained over two fixed pulleys 42- and servesto further reduce the friction in the wire 34 by bridgingseveral' of the pulleys engaging said wire, This in effect produces two endless circuits, cutting 'of :either of which results in releasing, the bomb firing mechanism. The use of a double wiring system also prevents preliminary clamping the wire to prevent=operation of the bomb during further cutting. v

As the combination lock 12 is the most frequently chosen point of attack special arrangements forthe wire .34,are provided adjacent thereto. fA loop -43 is formed by pulleys 44 on the outer .or swinging side of the look. Areleasable pulley 45 is also mounted on theopposite side of the lock 12, this pulley, having a pivot 46 slidably mounted in a bracket 47 which is mounted upon a drill proof plate 47a of the pivot having a wire 48leading over a guide 49 to one corner of a triangularplate 50'positioned directly over the lock- 12 andanchored by tie wires 51 leading to brackets 52. The tie wires 51 are detachable from the brackets 52 by pulling out the cotter pins 53 shown in Figure 9, this arrangement being provided to permit ready access to thecombination lock 12 to change the combination thereof. The structure so far describedmi'ght'conceivably be released by a series ofaccidental jars or shocks, so that a soft wire 54 is passed through aligned apertures in the pivot 46 and bracketlY;

Theoperation is as follows:

The bomb proper, chosen for illustration, comprises an existing type, the operation. of which has been briefly described hereinbefore. As the installation of the invention is intended to operate only when an attempt at forcible. entry-is being made, it becomes necsensit-iveness, andreduce the friction in mssais 3.

essary' to consider possible methods of attack. l/Viththe simpler'form's of vaults or safes'it' has been possible to knock off the external knob of the combination lock and to then knock the lock boi: off the inner face of p the door. The present invention provides against such an action by meansof the structures of Figures 6 to 9, an inward movement of the combinationlock box'pushing 'on the triangular plate 50 which in turn-acts to pull out the pivot 46 of the pulley releasing the tension in the wire 34 hichin turn al lows the movable pulleyBQ of FigureQ to move upwardly, slackening the Bowdenwire '25 attached thereto, whichin turn releases the firing plunger '19 of the bomb, asprevi ously described. a 3 t If sin-attempt is made to burn a hole through the" vault door by means of a gas torch, the process Will sever the'wires3 i'or 39 at some point in their length orfailing this thefusible link 38 will surely give way under the heat generated. with a similar action of the-bomb releasing mechanism. An

- attempt'to drill through the door, either to cut ai' entrance, or to'attcmpt to clamp (the wire against movement preliminary to cuting an entrance aperture, would be likelyto sever one of thewires, but even if this didnot happen and a'wire could be clamped the device would stillbe operative because of the interconnected but 1 independently operatable wiring systems. TheBowden wire sheathais purposely made hardand brittle to prevent its being pinched to clamp the Bowden wire proper, and it is evldent that the movable pulley structure of Figure 2 can be located in various positions on. thedoorsothat it would be difficult to locate-from the outside and'wo uld be drill proof even {if located. a y a The triangular plateover the lock box can bereleased without setting offthe bomb if it is desired to change the combination of the lock.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purposelimi-ting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. I a

I claim as my invention: I 9 LA device of the class described, com-- prising in combination with a noxious gas bomb and means for bursting thesame, means for normally restraining the operation of said bursting means comprising a plurality of endless networks of wire strung over a se-. ries of pulleys, one of which pulleys is adapted to simultaneously tension said endless wire networks, and means connecting said tension pulley to the bomb bursting means whereby to restrain the same.

2. A device of the class described, comprising in combination with a noxious gas bomb and means for bursting the same, means for normally restraining the operation of i said burstingmeans comprising a plurality of endless networks ofwire strung over a series of fixed and" movable pulleys, one of which pulleys-is adapted to simultaneously tensio'nsaid endless wirenetwo'rks, and means ,conne'cting said tension pulley to the bomb burstingmeans whereby to restrain the same.

3. A device of the class" described, comprisng 'incoinb'ination with a noxious gas bomb and means for bursting-the same, means for norm'allyrestraining theoperation of said bursting meanscomprising a plurality 'of endless networksof' wire strung over a series offpulleya'one of which pulleys is adapted ate" simultaneously tension saidv endless wire networks, andmeans connecting said tension pulley to the bomb bursting means whereby to restrain the same,-a'notherpulley'in one of said wire networksya releasable mounting ieasingisaid pulley mounting;- H 4. Adevice'of theclass described, comprismg n combinat on with a noxious'gas bomb therefoigand disconnectable means for re-.

and means for bursting the same, means for normally restraining the operation of said bursting means comprising a single endless strand of wire passing back and forth over i the surface to be protected, fixed pulleys form ng guides for said'wire, a second strand of wire forming" a separate c1rcu1t,"and movable {pulleys secured tothe ends thereof and" cooperatingwith the first mentioned endless wire to increase. the sensitiveness thereof.

5: 5A device'of theclass described, comprising in combi-nation'with amoxious' gas bomb and means for bursting the same, means for normally restraining thefoperation of said' bursting means comprising a single endless strand of wirepassing back and forth over the surface to be protected, fixed pulleys forming guides forsaid wire, a second strand of wire forming a separate circuit, movable pulleys sfecured'to the'ends' thereof and coop normallyrestraining the operation'of said.

burst'ingmeans comprising a single endless strand of wire passing back and forth over the surface to be protected, fixed pulleys forming guides for said wire, a second strand of wire forming a separate circuit, movable pulleysssecured to the ends thereof and 00- operating. with the first mentioned endless wire toaincrease 'theesensitiveness thereof, am. 7

other pulley in said endless wire network, a

e easab e, maunting theretcri and I d scona able mean E n releasingaid- Pr ley,

V operative, and a frangible seal forretainingin -in combination with-a noxious-gas bomb andmeans for burst ngthe same, means; for

normally restraining the operation of said bursting means comprising a single endless strand of wire passing backand forth overthe surface to 'be-protected,;a second strandiof Wire formin a sep arate. circuit, fixedpulleys forming gui es for said wire ,movablepulleys secured to the endsthereof and, cooperating With the first mentionedendless wire to in; crease the sensitiveness thereof, a movable;- pulley adapted to :normallytensionsaid end;

less wire, means connecting said movable :ten'- sion pulley to said bomb bursting means, an other pulley engagingsaid wires, a releasable mounting therefor, anddisconneptablemeans for releasing said pulley mounting.

-8. A, vault closure protector comprising ,a series of pulleys,-a strand of wire-passing over said pulleys-with its ends ,ad ustably jolned together, a tensioning pulley alsoengaglng; said'wire, andeagas bomb connectediozsaid V tensioning pulley and adapted ;to-1be actuated bya release of the tension of the wire-0n said pulley."

, '9. vaulti closure-protectorcomprising a seriesof pulleys, a-strandof :wirepassing over said pulleys; with its-ends adj ustably i oined together, -a tensionin-g pulleyalsogengaging saidwire, one ofsaid pulleys having arleasable retaining mounting, and a;-gas b9mb c ne nected-to saiditensionin g pu'lleyand adapted to be actuatedjby a release-of the ilenslon-rof' the wire-onsaid pulley. 1

10. A vault closure;protectencomprieingz z series .-0f-- pulleys, ;a ,strand pofywire passing over said pulleys:With-itsendS .adjustably.

joined together, a tensioning pulleyalso en:

gaging said wire, n id pul ey vhavinga rel asabl etflnifigmmting; i ngi le m an or eta ning-s d ipu ey i llzrosi i ni nde r-gas bomb onn d to sa en ip ing. pu ley n apt to, be a tuated ,by are; lease cf-the nsi of the wir onsaid pnls ley.

aid ,pull ys with i ends adiustably joine ge her, tensioning pu ley. al o ngag ng;

said wire,agas bomb connected :to sald tensioning pulley and adapted to be actuated by a lrelease of the-tension of the wirelon said pulley, means for rendering said gas'lbomb in said last means in disengagedposition;

12. vault closure protector comprisinga seriesof pulleys, astrand of wire passing over J said pulleys with sits sends :ad-justablyjoinedtogether, a :tensioning pulley also en .111 .A ul c sur P tester i omnpisi ig a series of pulleys, a strand of wire passlngoyer V amaa -1.9

connected to; saidtensioning pulley and adapted to be actuated by a release of thev tension ofthe-wire on said pulley, means for rendering 'saidgas bomb inoperative, and a frangible seal for retaining said last means in disengaged position.

13.; A vault closure protector comprisingaseriesof pulleys, a strand of wire passing overasaid pulleys with its ends adjustably joined together atensioning pulley also engagingsaid wire, one of saidpulleys having a'releasable retaining-mounting, means for retaining said. pulleyin position, a gas bomb connected to said tensioning pulley and. adapted to be actuated by, a release of the tension of theqwire, on said pulley, means for rendering said gas bomb. inoperative, and a frangible seal for retaining said last means indisenga-ged position. V y

145111 combinationfwith a closure to be mountedv-on'said closure,:a gas bomb, means associated with the tensioned wires adapts ed when released to operatesaid gas bomb, andrreleasable. means also associated with said -wires and forming part of the support therefor.

15.'I n combination with a. .closure to be protected,. a network of tensioned Wires mounted on said closure, a gas bomb, means associated with thetensioned wires adapted when'released to operate said gas bomb, releasablemeans also associated with said wires and forming part ofthe support therefor, and frangible means associated with said releasable means. g r

16. In combination with aclosure to be protected, a networle of tensioned wires mounted on said closu-re, a gas bomb, means associatedwith the tensioned wires adapted when released to operate said gas bomb, releasablemeans also associated with said wires and forming part of the support-therefor, a second gas bomb, and means associated with said first mentioned gas bomb adaptedto be released by the operation thereof to set off said second gas bomb. V 17. In. combination with aclosure to be protected, a network of tensioned wires mounted on said closure, a gas bomb, means associated with the tensioned Wires adapted when released to operate said gas bomb, releasable means also associated with said wires and forming part -0fth e support therefor, frangible means associatedwith said releasab l e*means, a second gas bomb,'and means associated with said first mentioned gas bomb adapted to be-released'bythe operation thereof to set off said second gas bomb.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name at Ghicago, Cook County,

Illinois;

JOHN/1C). MILLER, JR-

protected, a network of. tensioned Wires 

